MCADCafe Partners With Technology Evaluation Centers to Provide Interactive PLM Decision Support System

Q:What is the "MCADCafé Technology Evaluation Center"?A: It is a place where IT Decision makers,vendors, consultants, educators, students, etc. can conduct high level research into the selection process. It is powered by TESS, a patented decision support system, and combined with vetted vendor data stored in a Knowledge Base. The KB simply contains fully evaluated software technologies that have been ranked and rated. It is where 'buyers' of software come to match their requirements to those of the software solution provider's capabilities. It is a place to conduct intelligence, and make an informed evaluation based on your specific business requirements.

Q:How different is the MCADCafé Technology Evaluation Center from other sites with superimposed vendors' data (features/functions)?A: The main difference is the fact the MCADCafé Technology Evaluation Center uses a combination of extensive vendor analysis coupled with the powerful analytical capabilities of TESS. Vendor data is third party evaluated and is fully impartial. The depth of analysis goes far beyond features and functions; it includes elements such as Corporate Strategy, Flexibility and Viability. This gives all vendors an equal playing field. When this data is entered into our Knowledge Base and viewed through the TESS engine, it becomes an invaluable tool for analysis - "the Rolls Royce of Decision Analysis Software" (ZDNet).

Q:Who should benefit from using the MCADCafé Technology Evaluation Center?A: Potential buyers -- to rapidly create their business requirements and to conduct a preliminary selection down to 2-3 finalist vendors; Existing users -- to justify the validity of their decision; Vendors and their SI partners -- to justify whether to compete in a particular selection, and/or to conduct a competitive analysis.; Analysts, Students, etc.)

Q:Should I base my purchase decision only on the info found in the MCADCafé Technology Evaluation Center?A: This is not recommended without first meeting face to face with the vendors who have made it to your short list, discussing specific capabilities and conducting a live software demonstration, then speak to a third party impartial source like a consultant. (For a list of TEC & Advanced Manufacturing approved consultants feel free to contact us.)

Q:What are TESS, eBestMatch and the TESS Engine?A: TESS is the powerful software tool behind the MCADCafeé Technology Evaluation Center. It is an enterprise-scale decision support tool that contains several patented analysis algorithms. It has been referred to as "the Rolls Royce of Decision Support tools"(ZDNet). For more information on TESS click here. eBestMatch is a simplified web enabled version of TESS. The TESS Engine is the core engine that powers the MCADCafeé Technology Evaluation Center. The TESS Engine permits the MCADCafeé Technology Evaluation Center to retain all of the computational and mathematical power of TESS, yet present the data in a user-friendly manner. This permits the complexity of the TESS software to remain hidden, but at the same time gives the user a simple, easy-to-use and powerful decision evaluation tool at their fingertips. When combined with the extensive Knowledge Bases that are used in the MCADCafeé Technology Evaluation Center, it becomes an invaluable research tool.

Q:How are vendors evaluated for the MCADCafé Technology Evaluation Center?A: Vendors must first complete our specially prepared RFI questionnaires. Once these questionaires are filled out, our chief analyst will review and aprove the data and then transfer them to the Knowledge Base. Once the data is in the KB, the TESS engine permits in-depth analysis of these ratings weighed against the priorities set in the decision hierarchy. From there, the MCADCafeé Technology Evaluation Center user has full control over how these vendors rank according to their own business priorities.

Q:What happens after my 7 days access period expires?A: You can purchase more time and continue for another week, and another week and another etc. We charge you, the user, $250.00 per vendor per week and you are free to purchase as many vendors as you wish for that week. You can open up a file and save your work. By weeks end you will be prompted to purchase another week and retain your findings. You can decide to also reduce or increase your field of vendors.